Nova Scotia is taking the first steps to make the industries that create much of the waste going into landfills responsible for disposal when people are finished with it.

On Wednesday August 2, government announced new extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for batteries, lamps, and small household electric appliances, as well as packaging, paper products and other blue bag materials.

Government will make producers responsible for the waste they create in two ways. The first, will introduce a new set of EPR regulations covers packaging, paper products and materials in the residential blue bag recycling program.

Under the new program, producers are responsible to pay for, collect, and recycle the materials. The province will consider the producers as the manufacturer, distributer or retailer depending on which entity is based in Nova Scotia.

Producers will have to meet recycling targets that will encourage more eco-friendly packaging and reduce single-use plastics. Having producers cover the cost of recycling will save Nova Scotia municipalities around $25 million annually.

The second part involves changing the Solid Waste-Resource Management Regulations to include programs for batteries, lamps and small household electric appliances, such as irons, can openers and hair dryers.

Under the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, the Province aims to reduce waste disposal rates to 300 kilograms per person per year by 2030. EPR programs are a crucial step to achieve this milestone. Nova Scotia already has EPR programs for some electronics, paint, used oil and glycol.

The new programs will come into effect on various dates over the next 28 months.

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